Serial sponger's £200,000 fraud

The defendant has systematically plundered the public purse by exploiting and abusing the trust that is placed in applicants

The prosecution's David Jugnarain

Gladys Popoola, 47, raked in cash from three jobs and in rent from homes in London and Kenya.

At the same time she was getting income support, housing benefit, council tax benefit and special grants during her six-year deception.

She even got a fraudulent second National Insurance number as part of her application to stay in the country.

Yesterday, she was jailed for two years.

Popoola also failed to tell the authorities that she was living with her working husband John Ndirangu and then lied to claim legal aid in civil proceedings against her.

David Jugnarain, prosecuting, said: “The obtaining of the second National Insurance number is critical to this case because it allowed the defendant to work and claim benefits and both could be kept secret.

“The defendant has systematically plundered the public purse by exploiting and abusing the trust that is placed in applicants.”